Control apparatus



Patented July 12, 1921 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

- INVENTOR fiaur/ce fiJnes ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

M. F. JONES.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Ausis, I917.

Patented July 12', 1921.

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ATTORNEY WITNESSE S: 1 b (/79 UNITED STATES P-ATENT OFFICE.

' ToaZZ whom:

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nousn mmmc a innur'ac'runme A Be it known'that I," MAURICE citizen of the ,Unitedstates, and a resident new and'useful Improvement in Control Ap- I connection with cooperating contact. memi 20, x Y of. arc-extinguishing means that is dependent of 'Wilkin sbur in the county of Allegheny and State of ennsylvania, have invented'a paratus, of which the following is a specifica-- tion. r

My invention relates to controlapparatus and especially to arc-extin uishing means in bers of the familiar unit-switch type;

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated"character, wherein a fluid blast is directed upon coeperating electrical contact members substantially only during th an are between them. More specificallystated, the object of my invention is to provide afluid-pressure type for its operation" upon the opening movement of the contact members and wherein the extinguishing fluid blast is automatically cut off upon the ru' ture of the arc,'such automatic operation ing obtained through the medium 'ofanactuating coilfor thefluiddirecting means that is connected in series re lation with the contact members. 1

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing,

wherein Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a-complete unit-switch apparatus embodying. my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a control system serving to illustrate the preferred circuit connections'ofv the apparatus that is showninFig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a semi-' diagrammatic view, corresponding to 1, of a modification of the invention. a

illustrated structure comprises a suitable insulating ba'se-plateor cover member Ifor unit-switchtype, for controlling any desired mum: urmrus,

: a conducting .block 10 which may be secured to the supe period of existence ofv CORPORATION OF rum-- 7 specification of Letters Patent .Pat f d J 12 1921. I Application filed-Augusta, 1917. Serial no. mass. 4

v I -tion; a fluid-pressure valve 5 for governing F. Jonas, a

the fluid blast, for extinguishing arcs that are caused by the separation of the contact members; and electromagnetic means 6 for controlling 'the operation of the fluid valve' 5 m con unction with the movement of the contact members, as hereinafter described in detail. r A a The stationary contact member 2 comprises terminal member or mountingporting platev 1 through the agency" of suitable screws 11, for example, and a copper terminal tip 12 which cis electrically-associated with the block 10 in any appropriate manner.. The terminal block 10 has an internal passage 13 which acts in the capacity of a nozzle for'directing a fluid blast upon and between the cooperating stationary and movable contact members during their separation, as hereinafter more fully set forth. A fluid delivery pipe Meflects communication with the passage -13, preferably through an insulating tubular knob or disk 15, one end of the pipe 14 leading into the fluid valve 5. It will be understood that, if desired, a

suitably designed nozzle or pipe may be secured tothe terminal block 10 and employed inlieu 'ofthe-internal passage 13 for the above-mentioned purpose.

contact tip 16 Whichis similar to the tip 12 andwhich is mounted upon an oscillatingarm17 that has a pivotal connection 18 with' a main switch arm 19. The main arm19, in turn, is pivotally mountedupon a bracket-or standard 20, which is appro riately attached tothe supporting plate '1. Thegeneral construction of the movable contact member 3 p p -.is of a well-known form and serves the pur- R ferring to Fig.1 of the drawing, the' pose of providing awiping. action of the The movable contact member 3 comprises a coiiperatingcontact members duringthecontact-making and breaking thereof, in I ac-: cordance withffamiliar.principles. In particular, abuttinginclined surfaces 21 and 22,

upon the oscillating arm 17 and the main switch arm 19, respectively, are utilized dur- 17., wh ich, in the figure, is illustrated as occu ing the action just-recited,--s'erving to define" the limitof movement of the oscillating arm V pying its normal fully open position. A coil spring 23 is utilized to bias the oscillating arm 17 to the position shown, wherein the inclined surfaces 21-and 22 make contact. The actuating mechanism 4 is of a familiar electrically controlled pneumatically operated type, comprising a pneumatic engine having an incasmg cylinder 25 within which travels a piston 26 that is normally biased to the illustrated position by a coil spring 27. The piston 26 is provided with a suitable stem or rod 28, which is mechanically coupled, through the medium of aninsulating disk or knob 29, to a hook member 30 that engages the main switch arm 19. The upward piston movement is effected through the agency of a normally closed fluid valve 31 which, when opened through the electromagnetic action of a coil 32 that is governed m the customary manner, serves to efiect the conveyance of fluid pressure from any suitable source (not shown) through a supply pipe 33, the open internal passages of the valve 31 and a delivery pipe 34 to the operating cylinder 25.

The fluid valve 5 may be of any suitable form, comprising a plug valve 35 that is normally seated in its illustrated uppermost position to cut oil? communication between a fluid-supply pipe 36 and the delivery pipe 14, which leads into the nozzle passage 13 of the stationary contact member 2. The stem of the plug valve 35 has a pivotal connection 37 with a lever arm 38 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted upon a bracket or standard 40 that is suitably secured to the base-plate 1. A relatively powerful spring 41 is located between thev free end of the lever arm 38 and the main switch arm 19 of the movable contact member 3. The spring 41 is thus located directly beneath the plug valve 35 and, during the illustrated fully open condition of the contact members and also during the subsequently-described com- 45 pletely closed condition of the contact members, the compression of the spring 41 serves to bias the plug valve member 35 to its upper or inoperative position.

The electromagnetic means 6 comprises an incasing member 45 of magnetizable material; an actuating coil 46 of relatively heavy strap wire, for example, for carrying the full current that traverses the contact members 2 and 3; and a movable magnetizable core member 47 which is mounted upon a reciprocating rod 48, the up er end of which is pivotally associated wit an intermediate portion of the lever arm 38. ,A coil spring 49, acting between the lever arm 38 and the incasing member 45 of the electromagnetic means 6, serves to normally aid in biasing the lever arm 38 and the fluid valve 5 to the illustrated closed' positions, although the arrangement of parts is such that '5 the turning movement of the spring 49 is less than that of the spring 41, under compression, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The actuating coil-46 for the electromagnetic means 6 is' provided with terminal conductors 50 and 51 which are connected in ductors trolley and ground; a dynamo-electric machine havin a commutator-t armature A and a eld winding F of the series type; and the various circuit elements of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1. The machine circuit is established from the trolley through the conductor 50, the actuating coil 46 o the electromagnetic means 6, the conductor 51, the movable and stationary contact tips 16 and 12, respectivel the conductor 53, armature A, field winding F and a conductor 54 to the negative supply-circuit conductor ground.

In the illustrated system, the contact members 12 and 16 are thus utilized in the capacity of a line switch, although it will be understood that my invention is not so restricted in its application and may be employed in connection with any set of 006perating contact members that are employed to open an electric circuit.

Assuming that the various parts of the apparatus occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 1, the com lete operation thereof may be set forth as ollows: Upon the ener- .110 gization of the actuating coil 32 of the power-operated mechanism 4, the valve'31 is thus raise the piston-26 to its upper position,

such movement being transmitted through the hook member 30 and the coiiperating elements. of the movable contact member 3 to effect the closure thereof; that is, the intimate engagement thereof with the stationary contact tip 12, in accordance with the previously-mentioned wiping contact motion. The governed circuit is thus closed, and current traverses the various illustrated circuit elements.

Con uently, the magnetizable core member 47 of the electromagnetic means 6 is downwardly attracted by the electromagnetic action of the coil '46 but the spring 41, when under compression, as in the case of 1 0 V the closed conditionlof the contact members :2 and '3, predominates over. such electro- ,magnetic action and, therefore, the flu d valve 5 remains in its closed'position.

Upon deenergization of the coil 32 of the actuating mechanism 4, the spring 27 immediately returns the piston 26 to its illus- Y trated lower position and themovable contact tip '16 is somewhat more slowly, separated from the stationary contact tip 12:

by reasonof: the-- previously-mentioned wiping action. During the initial portion of the contact-opening movement, the

biasing spring 23 serves to maintain the en'- gageme-nt of the cooperating contact members until the-inclinedsurfaces 21 and 22 of the movable contact member 3 make contact.. By this time,the main switch arm 19 has been lowered a distance 'suflicient to relieve the greater part of the initial compression in thespring 41 and, consequently, the relatively weak} opposing action of the s ring 49, with respect to the attraction of the actuating coil 46jupon the core member 47, permits the downward movement of the lever arm 38,-thus opening the fluid valve 5. Air or other suitable fluid-pressure medium is thereupon conveyed from the supply pipe 36 through the pipe 14 to the internal passa e 13, and the nozzle action, thus estabj lis ed at the'outlet of the passage 13, serves I Q to direct a powerful fluid blast upon and between-the contact tips 12 and 16. The preferred arrangement of parts is such that the fluid blast is commenced just prior'jto the initial complete separation of the two contact tips, whereby the arc-extinguishlng blast is effective before the actually formed. 40

arc .itsel-f has Asthe contact tips become further sepa- 3 rated, the usual heavy arc is formed, but

' tion of the flu d blastjust recited. Untilthe electro-magnetic means 6 is maintained it is'soon extinguished by reason of'thea'cthe arc has been-ruptured the traversal of current through the actuating coil 46 of s to hold openthe fluid valve 5 Upon the tion of the actuating coil 46, the powerful are rupture and the resultant deenergizaspring 41 immediately returns the plug valve 35 to its upper seat, and the magnetizable core 47 is likewise elevated to the illustrated initial position.

a very effective and reliable'arc-extin uishingmeans in connection with electrica con 4 tact members, the complete rupture of the i I are being insured by reason of the fact that the fluid blast is maintained until such rupture has actually occurred, while, by proper design of parts, the fluid blast is utilized substantially only during the period of ex- I istence of such an arc, thus making for economy in operating costs.

In lieu of employing my invention by to supplement the action- 0 the familiar magnetic. blow-out devices. that have been heretoforeassociated with controllers of the unit-switch type.

With such acombined device, in the case of a short-circuit or other severe operating condition in; the control system, the fluidpressure type-of arc-extinguishing means for the opening contact members may be brought'into action by the electromagnetic means 6 which,.in this instance, needs to be provided with only a relatively small number of coil turns. Thus, under normal current-interrupting conditions, only the customary magnetic-blowout action ,is established, while, under'emergency conditions, the electromagnetic means 6 is sufliciently energized to open the valve 5 and thus supplement the action of the magnetic-blowout by directingf'a fluid blast upon the arc.

Reference may now be had to Fig. 3, wherein is shown a system for electrically eflectingthe operation of an arc-extinguishing. fluid blast in lieu of mechanically controlling the'valve 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

The .structure illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises the base-plate 1 and the stationary and movable contact members 2' and 3, re-

members '62 that are controlled by the action -of the movable contact member 3 and an auxiliary source'of energy, such as a battery B.

j The fluid-controlling valve comprises a delivery pipe or passage 64 that communicates with the nozzle assage 13; a movable valve member 65 which normally prevents communication between the delivery pipe 64 and a supply pipe-66; a magnetizable core member 67 which is secured to the valve member65'; a spring 68 which may be secured to the core member 67 to bias the valve to the illustrated closed position; and an actuating coil 69 .for moving the valve member 65 t0 the open position when the coil is energlzed todirect a fluid blast through the nozzle passage 13 upon the main contact members. g

The relay device61 comprises a magnetizable core member to which is attached a bridging-contact member or disk 76, which closes an auxiliary circuit, to be set forth, when an actuating coil 77 is energized through the main contact members.

The interlocking contact members 62 are of a familiar type in unit-switch controllers, comprising asupporting arm 80, which is itself-for the. purpose of extinguishing arcs A between separating contact members, it will beunderstood that the device may be utilized in aprotective or emer ency capacity rigidly secured to the piston stem 28 of the actuating mechanism 4 and upon which is mounted a suitably insulated contact block or segment 81 to engage a spring contact finger or clip 82 in the opened condition of the main contact members.

Assuming that the main contact members have been closed in the manner described in connection with Fig. 1, the main circuit is established from the conductor 50 through the actuating coil 77 of the relay device 61, which is thus closed, conductor 83 and thence, through the movable and stationary main contact members 3 and 2, respectively, to the terminal conductor 53. Under such conditions, the electrical interlock 62 is opened and, consequently, the actuating coil 69 of the fluid controlling valve 60 remains denergized.

Upon the opening movement of the main contact members, however, the relay device 61 remains in its closed or energized osition by reason of the formation of an arc etween the main contact. tips 12 and 16 and, moreover, as soon as the movable contact member reaches a predetermined open position, the

electrical interlock members 81 and 82 engage'to complete an auxiliary circuit from the positive terminal of the battery B through conductor 85, stationary contact finger 82 and movable contact segment 81 of the electrical interlock 62, conductor 86, movable contact member 76 of the contact segment 61 in the u per or closed position, conductor 87 actuating coil 69 of the fluidcontrolling valve 60 and conductor 88 to the negative terminal of the battery B.

The arrangement of parts is preferably made such that the opening impulse is imparted to the valve member 65 just prior to the actual separation of the main contact tips 12 and 16 which, as previously mentioned, produce a wiping action upon eachother before such actual separation takes place. Consequently, a fluid blast is maintained upon and between the main contact members until the arc has been ruptured to deenergize the actuating coil 77 of the relay device 61, whereupon the opening move ment of the relay device denergizes the actuating coil 69 of the fluid-controlling valve 60 to permit the spring 68 to return the valve member 65 to its illustrated closed position.

I do not wish to be restricted to the spe cific structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth; as various other modifications of my invention may be eifected without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention':

1. In control apparatus, the combination with a plurality of normally open electrical contact members, of means for actuating one of said contact members to a closed position, a valve opened b the opening movement of the contact mem rs to direct a fluid blast upon the arc caused by their se aration, and a coil in series circuit with sai arc and associated with means for automatically permitting the closure of said valve only upon the rupture of the are.

2. In control ap aratus, the combination witha plurality o normall open electrical contact members, of means or actuating one of said contact members to a closed position, a fluid-pressure supply passage for directing a fluid blast upon the arc caused by the separation of said contact members, a valve for regulating the fluid su ply to said passage, means for biasing sai valve to the closed position under normal closed and normal open conditions of the actuable contact member, a magnetizable member mechanically associated with said valve, and an actuating coil for said ma etizable member connected in series circuit with said are to effect the opening of said valve.

3. In control apparatus, the combination with a plurality of normally open electrical contact members, of means for actuating one of said contact members to a closed position, a fluid-pressure supply passage for directing a fluid blast upon the are caused by the sep aration of said contact members, a normally closed valve for regulating the fluid supply to said passage, and means electrically dependent upon the formation of such an arc and also upon the opening movement of the contact members for opening said valve.

4. In control apparatus, the combination with a plurality of normally open electrical contact members, of means for actuating one of said contact members to a closed position, a fluid-pressure supply passage for directing a fluid blast upon the are caused by the separation of said contact members, a nor-.

a fluid blast upon the are caused by the separation of said contact members, a normally closed valve for regulating the fluid supply to said passage, a relay device having an actuating coil energized through said contact members, and means for opening said valve when said relay-device coil is energized and said actuable contact member occupies a predetermined open position.

6. In control apparatus, the combination with a plurality of normally open main electrical contact members, of means for 'ac tuating one of said contact members to a closed position, a fluid-pressure supply pas Sage for directing a fluld blast upon the are caused by the se aration of said contact members, a norma 1y closed valve for regulating theifluid supply to'said passage, a relay device having an actuating coil energized through said main contact members and having auxiliary contact members, a set of auxiliary stationary and movable contact members associated with said. actuable main contact member, and'an actuating coil for ogening said valve, sald coil being energized 15 t 11 testimony whereof, I have hereunto I.

subscribed my name this 26th day of July 191 i ,MAURICE F. JONES. 

